Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com--08/31/12--Ryan O'Halloran is the Jacksonville Jaguar beat writer for the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville.com. He was photographed on Friday August 31, 2012, in Jacksonville, FL. (Florida Times-Union, Bruce Lipsky)

Following a six-day flurry of activity that featured 41 changes to their active roster, the Jaguars returned to practice Monday with 10 new players and one significant participant: Their starting quarterback.

Albeit in a limited fashion, Blaine Gabbert worked for the first time since breaking a bone in his right (throwing) thumb Aug. 17 against the New York Jets.

Gabbert advanced to gripping the football in his hand over the weekend and during the 30 minutes practice was open to the media, he threw short passes but did not take a snap from center or the shotgun formation.

While the team is optimistic about his availability for Sunday’s season opener against Kansas City, Gabbert must clear a few more hurdles before coach Gus Bradley names him the starter.

“I did a little more than I have been [doing] and we’ll see how I feel [Tuesday],” Gabbert said. “We stretched the ball down the field a little bit, but at the same time, we were smart.”

Gabbert did not take any 11-on-11 reps and the Jaguars were coy about his activity, partly because they can be (they aren’t required to issue an injury report until Wednesday) and partly because they want to keep Kansas City guessing and prepare for Gabbert and Chad Henne.

The return of Gabbert was one of many subplots for the Jaguars.

Three players who were added last week before the Atlanta game and seven players who were added via waivers on Sunday practiced for the first time.

Twenty-six players on the current 53-man roster weren’t with the team at the end of last year.

“It was a tough deal because you establish your 53 and you talk to them, and a day or two later, you have to tell some of those 53 that we’re going in a different direction,” Bradley said.

The new players flew into Jacksonville Sunday night, having only a few hours to pack their belongings and hustle to airports in Seattle (safety Winston Guy), Green Bay (tight end D.J. Williams), Chicago (linebacker J.T. Thomas), Minneapolis (receiver Stephen Burton), Atlanta (guard Jacques McClendon) and Philadelphia (tight end Clay Harbor and linebacker Chris McCoy). They underwent physicals early Monday morning, underwent fitting for new helmets and shoulder pads and were on the field by 10:45 a.m.

Those players went from the low of being cut Saturday to the high of being claimed by the Jaguars on Sunday. And then came the crash course of meetings with their new position coaches and special teams coordinator Mike Mallory.

“Some of the guys, there’s a good chance they’re going to be active so the challenge is try and get them caught up as fast as possible that in a situation where an injury occurred, they could step in,” Bradley said.

On offense, Harbor, who worked as a receiver for the Eagles during camp, could be the Jaguars’ fifth option. But it’s on special teams where the newcomers will be asked to play.

Burton could help on kick returns, Williams started on all four of Green Bay’s return/coverage teams and reserve linebackers like McCoy and Thomas must always be special teams contributors.

There’s no question, though, that Henne will be more than ready to step in if Gabbert can’t play.

But the Jaguars’ Plan A remains to have Gabbert — named the starter by Bradley on Aug. 19 — can face Kansas City.

Since the MRI showed a hairline fracture, Gabbert’s target date has been Wednesday, 18 days post-injury.

“I think Wednesday will be a big sign to see if he’s going in the right direction,” Bradley said.

Gabbert admitted there was discomfort when he threw the football.

“It’s uncomfortable but at the same time, it’s just something you can’t worry about,” he said. “It’s about pain tolerance and having confidence in your throws and knowing that you can get the ball to spots that you need because not everything will be clean and crisp in the game. You have to make good throws and put throws into some tight windows so I’m just trying to progress to that level right now.”

To help the comfort level, Gabbert and the training staff are experiencing with different tape jobs on the hand.

“It’s just about how I feel and how I can grip the ball,” he said. “It’s kind of a catch 22 because you don’t want to have too much on it because then you can’t grip it. We’re just finding ways to help it out.”

@parabola- Although I know we dont agree 100% on everything about the direction of the Jags, it sounds like we at least agree on Gus. I guess I havent been real clear on my reason for optimism and who I support more. Although I do like some things Cladwell has done I dont support everything he has done. My optimism and support has lied with Bradley. Too many fans have made Bradley and Caldwe out to be one in the same, and I have tried to defend Bradley. In my defense of Bradley it may have come across I was in complete agreement with Caldwell. Thats not the case. I honestly hope they both last awhile. I believe Caldwell had a solid draft and like what he did in the draft. Thats just my opinion though.

As far as Gus, if Caldwell will listen to the types of players Gus wants and is looking for, I think this team has a bright future. I was intriqued by that Seattle defense last season. I tried to watch as many Seahawks games as I could just to see that defense play. If Gus can get the guys to have a true compitetion, I like that concept. I dont believe he had the right guys to have true compitetion this offseason. Gus is my true reason for optimism and I wish more fans would at least get behind the head coach no matter what the dislike for Caldwell may be.

In finish, I do have to say I at least agree with you overall assessment of drafting a qb. I would rather us go 9-7 this season then go 2-14 just to get Bridgewater. Your right, sometimes you find the guy when you find the guy. That could be 1st, 2nd or any round or maybe just undrafted. I do think the value is far greater in the first round but its about winning. I want this team to win now, and if it means missing out on Bridgewater, so be it. Go Jags!!!

@Razz the top 10 QB's last year by rating contained 4 that were 3rd round or lower. 2 others were not drafted to be a franchise guy in Brees and Rogers. So 6 of the top 10 were not drafted to be a franchise QB. The only reason that the rest of the QB's below them are 1st and 2nd rounders is teams will not keep giving chances to a lower rated QB over and over. Look at Henne as an example - he has 2 ok seasons as a starter and has shown more overall promise than Blaine but he is not getting a fair chance. 1st round QB's will be given every opportunity to fail or succeed. Look at Sam Bradford and Colt Mccoy as another example - both have been ok in the first 2 years but the draft status has Bradford getting a 3rd year and now a 4th with no competition and Colt McCoy was discarded after his 2nd year.

@blkinnett1982 - "I think Gus is the reason I have more optimism than Cladwell" - agreed 100%. Gus will probably outlast Caldwell.

@TheRillest - you and I agree on the pulse of this team.

@revivedteal - don't know if I will respond to you very much anymore because you really are nothing but an internet troll at this point. But of anyone's opinion about anything related to the Jags and football, there in none I respect less than yours.

I like Gus! If Geno turns out to be good you cant fire Caldwell because I don't think the owner/Lamping wanted to pay Gabbert ten of Millions to sit the bench.....hence the fake QB competition. I also believe that if Gabbert was healthy and the other QB's didn't suck SO BAD, Henne would have been cut.